A record-breaking 27 Hamilton High School students – 23 who graduated in 2009 and four current students – earned designation as AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.7 million high school students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. Hamilton High School currently offers AP courses in biology, chemistry, calculus AB/BC, English, government and politics, European history, statistics, U.S. history and studio art – drawing.
Students took AP Exams in May 2009 after completing challenging college-level courses at Hamilton High School. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student performance on AP exams.
Three students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Darcie Adams, Kathryn Klein (current senior) and Miles Whitt.
Ten students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Mary Biron, Kristin Cox, Halley Greeneway, Andrew Kristensen (current senior), Radoslav Radinov, Liane Rakow, Katie Ruh, Andrea Salus, Yoana Taseva and Chinou Vang.
Another 14 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Jose Cornejo, John Decker, Stephanie Englert, David Ferrell, Kate Jackson, Kimberly Jobke, Alexandra Koebl, Anthony Lee (current senior), Betty Liang, Andrew Michalski, Ian Read, Andrew Taavola, Amanda Wagner (current senior) and Steven Wright.
Most of the nation’s colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement or both based on successful performance on the AP Exams. More than 1,400 institutions award a full year’s credit (sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of qualifying grades.